Suspicious pipe at Antioch apartment complex prompts evacuation

ANTIOCH -- The discovery of a suspicious device that appeared to look like a pipe bomb led to the evacuation of a downtown apartment complex Wednesday afternoon, police said.

While conducting an inspection of an 8-unit apartment complex on the 200 block of West 3rd Street, code enforcement officers found the object inside a utility closet, according to Antioch police Lt. Tammany Brooks.

Police were called to the scene shortly after the 10:45 a.m. discovery, all residents were evacuated, and the Walnut Creek Bomb Squad was contacted, Brooks said. Police described the object as a homemade explosive device.

A Street was blocked off from W. Sixth Street to where it curves around near the waterfront by D Street.

The bomb squad rendered the device safe and residents were allowed back in their homes by 1:30 p.m.

The device is being investigated by Contra Costa Fire's arson unit, Brooks said.